URGENT action alert for raw milk bill

[Guest guest]

This is an URGENT REQUEST for all Minnesotans in this group! There is a

newly-introduced bill that would ease and enhance access to raw milk and raw

milk products in the state of Minnesota, and we need each of you to immediately

contact your legislators to urge them to support the bill. Simple,

easy-to-follow steps are outlined below.

Industrial food lobbyists are preparing an all-out assault to try to KILL THE

BILL BEGINNING ON DAIRY DAY FEBRUARY 15, and we need all Trad Food people and

their family and friends to STEP UP AND SPEAK UP IN SUPPORT OF THIS EXCITING AND

HISTORIC LEGISLATION.

The bill (Senate Bill 147 and House Bill 255) greatly improves access to a

product that is already legal in Minnesota, but that is severely restricted in

how people are allowed to obtain it. Current law says you must obtain it at the

farm. Thus, consumers must drive to farms, sometimes several hours in each

direction, to get farm-fresh milk. This new legislation would allow farmers to

deliver to farmers' markets, drop-off sites, private buying clubs and

residences. The new bill as currently written includes milk from cows, goats

and sheep, and encompasses raw dairy products including milk, cream, butter,

cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt and ice cream.

Our legislators need to hear not only from raw milk drinkers but EVERYONE

INTERESTED IN PROMOTING ACCESS TO WHOLESOME, FARM-FRESH, LOCAL FOODS OF OUR

CHOICE. Time is of the essence, and WE NEED TO MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD,

REPEATEDLY AND PERSISTENTLY, THIS WEEK AND IN THE WEEKS AHEAD!

PLEASE contact your State Senators, House Representatives and Agricultural

Committee Members in three ways, as follows:

-- CALL THEM. Tell them you are a constituent and why supporting this bill is

important to you (see talking points below, and links to identify your

legislators).

-- WRITE LETTERS to your Senate and House member, and copy their respective

Agricultural Committee Chair (single page, hand-written letters get more notice

than emails; use bullet points and see talking points below).

-- ASK TO MEET WITH YOUR SENATOR AND REP IN PERSON. This can be a brief

meeting at the State Capitol, or a meeting at a coffee shop, or at your or a

friend's home with a small group of like-minded friends.

In all cases, make it personal and positive for the greatest impact. Bring your

children if you meet in person. Remember, YOUR LEGISLATORS REPRESENT YOU and

your neighbors in your district and are genuinely GLAD TO HAVE DIRECT INPUT FROM

INDIVIDUAL CONSTITUENTS RATHER THAN PAID LOBBYISTS. Do all of the above

repeatedly if possible, and follow up later by sending them helpful articles,

useful links, etc.

TALKING POINTS:

-- State where you live, WHY you drink raw milk and any BENEFITS you have

noticed. Share your PASSIONATE STORY about how it has helped you and your loved

ones.

-- This bill makes it SAFER to obtain farm-fresh dairy products, eliminating

the need for individuals, parents and families to drive long distances to obtain

the food they choose for their families.

-- This bill makes it EASIER and MORE EFFICIENT by consolidating points of

purchase, using less gas, and saving wear and tear on roads and vehicles.

-- It would help smaller, family-scale farms, thereby supporting rural

Minnesota economies.

-- It encourages mutually beneficial farmer-consumer relationships, as

promoted in the national " Know Your Farmer " campaign.

-- It is less disruptive to hardworking farmers who now have to handle

numerous customers' visits.

-- It reinforces sustainable farming, and since raw milk for human consumption

is produced on pasture, it supports the animals, land, water and surrounding

environment.

-- It creates FOOD SECURITY in our state, and supports FREEDOM OF FOOD ACCESS

in what we feed ourselves and our families.

-- AVOID partisan remarks; AVOID bashing Big Ag (say only positive things

about raw dairy); DO NOT discuss Hartmann case which is a separate issue; if

asked who should not drink raw milk, answer " only people who don't want to " ;

DON'T discuss federal food safety legislation S510 – this is about Minnesota

only. THIS IS ABOUT IMPROVING ACCESS TO AN ALREADY LEGAL PRODUCT IN MINNESOTA.

-- Also, in this time of a budget crisis, not only does this bill NOT cost

anything, it actually could SAVE our state government lots of money in

enforcement due to the restrictive nature of the current law.

Click here to find your legislators' names and addresses:

http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/districtfinder.aspx

Here's a link to the Senate Ag committee members:

http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/committees/committee_bio.php?cmte_id=3048 & ls=

Here are the House Ag committee members:

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/committeemembers.asp?comm=87001

If you would like some coaching on talking with your legislators, or if you

would like a like-minded person to accompany you to the Capitol who is familiar

with such meetings, please contact:

Greg Schmidt gregoryvschmidt@... 612-386-4908 c

Myser johnmyser@... 952-226-2208 h; 651-341-3431 c

Susie Zahratka szahratka@... 651-329-8401 c

Niflis organicone@...

Here's a short, inspiring video of when the bill was introduced.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9NRLCmkZ8Q & sns=fb

This food freedom effort is supported by the Minnesota Natural Health Legal

Reform Project. To learn more or donate, please see www.mnhlrp.org.

Please share this with everyone interested in promoting access to locally-grown,

wholesome, farm-fresh foods of our choice. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.